Step 1: tech and tracking
Pick software or a network, place the tracking and test every step from click to confirmed order. Check that refunds and cancellations are settled automatically, or you pay commission on revenue that never lands.
Make sure your consent solution and tracking work together. Without proper consent, conversions go missing and publishers are wrongly left unpaid.
Step 2: terms and commission
Write down what is allowed: brand bidding, discount codes, email traffic, cashback and coupon sites. Clear rules upfront prevent arguments later.
Set commission from your margin, not from what a competitor does. Consider a base rate plus a higher rate for new customers or specific categories.
Step 3: an offer for publishers
Publishers pick programmes that are easy to promote. Provide a current product feed, deep links, good imagery and clear delivery and returns information.
Write a short programme page explaining why your shop converts: average order value, audience, seasonal peaks and commission.
Step 4: the first partners
Start with ten to twenty relevant publishers instead of a mass mailing. Personal contact with a concrete offer beats a network invitation by far.
Plan the first activation right away: a content test, a seasonal push or an exclusive code. A partner who sees revenue within thirty days stays active.